Adding a bit of fun and including interesting ways to communicate key messages will go a long way toward engaging your target audience. We learned how important creative communications are during the implementation of a new WMS (Work Management System) at our largest distribution center. Messages were difficult to disseminate because the employees most impacted worked on the shop floor all day picking customer orders, packing material for shipment, unloading trucks, and managing mountains of paperwork. These employees had little or no access to email or any form sharing information via a computer. To complicate the communication challenge further, English is a second language for many of our distribution center employees. The project success hinged on creating impactful communications, and reaching large numbers of people quickly. Lessons learned from this experience have improved our communication strategy and approach for all projects. During this presentation, Carla will share communication lessons her team learned throughout the 2 ½ year project to implement a new WMS, and how the team ditched digital communications for creative and fun information sharing alternatives. She will also show examples of similar tactics used during Avnet’s Australia SAP implementation that paved the way to successfully meeting project objectives.

Bio

Carla Howard is director of the Change Management COE for Avnet, Inc. The Change Management COE is responsible for the evolution of the Change Management strategy and tool deployment across Avnet’s global footprint. This includes the creation of custom workshops, facilitating certification training, and partnering with leaders to ensure strategic initiatives include robust change management strategies. Carla and her team coach leaders on their roles as executive sponsors and influencers, and mentor certified change leaders on their role. Customizing training, communication, and resistance management plans for cultural fit and regional customs is a critical component of this international work.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will leave this session with creative communication ideas they can immediately apply to projects